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NAME

Mnet - Testable network automation and reporting

SYNOPSIS

    # sample script to report Loopback0 address on cisco devices
    #
    #   demonstrates typical use of all major Mnet modules
    #   refer to perldoc for various Mnet modules for complete api info
    #
    #   use --help to list all options, or --help <option>
    #   use --device <address> to connect to device with logging
    #   use --batch <file.batch> to process multiple --device lines
    #   add --report csv:<file.csv> to create output csv repory file
    #   add --record <file.test> to create replayable test file
    #   use --test --replay <file.test> to show script test diff

    # load modules
    use warnings;
    use strict;
    use Mnet::Batch;
    use Mnet::Expect::Cli::Ios;
    use Mnet::Log qw(DEBUG INFO WARN FATAL);
    use Mnet::Opts::Cli;
    use Mnet::Report::Table;
    use Mnet::Stanza;
    use Mnet::Test;

    # define --device related and --report cli options
    #   options can also be set via Mnet environment variable
    Mnet::Opts::Cli::define({ getopt => "device=s" });
    Mnet::Opts::Cli::define({ getopt => "username=s" });
    Mnet::Opts::Cli::define({ getopt => "password=s" });
    Mnet::Opts::Cli::define({ getopt => "report=s" });

    # parse cli options, also parses Mnet environment variable
    my $cli = Mnet::Opts::Cli->new;

    # define output --report table, will include first of any errors
    #   use --report cli opt to output data as csv, json, sql, etc
    my $report = Mnet::Report::Table->new({
        columns => [
            device  => "string",
            error   => "error",
            ip      => "string",
        ],
        output  => $cli->report,
    });

    # handle concurrent --batch processing, parent exits when finished
    #   process one device or ten thousand devices with the same script

    # read command line options, fork children if in --batch mode
    #   exit --batch parent process when finished forking children
    $cli = Mnet::Batch::fork($cli);
    exit if not $cli;

    # ensure that errors are reported if script aborts before finishing
    $report->row_on_error({ device => $cli->device });

    # use log function and set up log object for device
    FATAL("missing --device") if not $cli->device;
    my $log = Mnet::Log->new({ log_id => $cli->device });
    $log->info("processing device");

    # create an expect ssh session to --device
    #   see perldoc Mnet::Expect::Cli::Ios to disable ssh host/key checks
    my $ssh = Mnet::Expect::Cli::Ios->new({
        spawn => [ "ssh", $cli->{device} ],
    });

    # retrieve config from ssh command, warn otherwise
    my $config = $ssh->command("show running-config");
    WARN("unable to read config") if not $config;

    # parse interface loopack0 stanza from config
    my $loop = Mnet::Stanza::parse($config, qr/^interface loopback0$/i);

    # parse primary ip address from loopback0 config stanza
    my $ip = undef;
    $ip = $1 if $loop and $loop =~ /^ ip address (\S+) \S+$/m;

    # report on parsed loopback0 interface ip addres
    $report->row({ device => $cli->device, ip => $ip });

    # finished
    exit;

DESCRIPTION

The Mnet modules are for perl programmers who want to create testable network automation and/or reporting scripts as simply as possible.

The main features are:

  • Facilitate easy log, debug, alert and error output from automation scripts, outputs can be redirected to per-device files

  • Automation scripts can run in batch mode to concurrently process a list of devices, using a simple command line argument and a device list file.

  • Flexible config settings via command line, environment variable, and/or batch device list files.

  • Reliable automation of cisco IOS and other command line sessions, including reliable authentication and command prompt handling.

  • Report data from scripts can be output as plain .csv files, json, or sql.

  • Record and replay connected command line sessions, speeding the development of automation scripts and allowing for proper regression testing.

Most of the Mnet sub-modules can be used independently of each other, unless otherwise noted.

Refer to the individual modules listed in the SEE ALSO section below for more detail.

INSTALLATION

The Mnet perl modules should work in just about any unix perl environment.

The latest release can be installed from CPAN

    cpan install Mnet

Or downloaded and installed from https://github.com/menzascripting/Mnet

    tar -xzf Mnet-X.y.tar.gz
    cd Mnet-X.y
    perl Makefile.PL  # INSTALL_BASE=/specify/path
    make install

Check your PERL5LIB environment variable if INSTALL_BASE was used, above.

AUTHOR

The Mnet perl distribution has been created and is maintained by Mike Menza. Mike can be reached via email at <mmenza@cpan.org>.

COPYRIGHT AND LICENSE

Copyright 2006, 2013-2019 Michael J. Menza Jr.

Mnet is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or (at your option) any later version.

This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. See the GNU General Public License for more details.

You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License along with this program. If not, see http://www.gnu.org/licenses/

SEE ALSO

Mnet::Batch

Mnet::Expect::Cli

Mnet::Expect::Cli::Ios

Mnet::Log

Mnet::Opts::Cli

Mnet::Opts::Set

Mnet::Report::Table

Mnet::Stanza

Mnet::Test